Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all associated characters belong to their respective owners. I just play and give back. All I can lay claim to are the OC's in this story – and not even them. They own themselves, alright? I guess I come out with nada. Sadly.

Author's Note: Yea, the muse has been finicky. Sorry about the delay. But on the plus side, we're working towards something for once – yay! XP

Dedication: I dedicate this whole story to my grandpa who lived an eventful, healthy 86 years and instilled knowledge and the love of gardening in most everyone he came into contact with. He was joking up until the very end, and that's how I like to remember him.

Chapter 8 – Partings

Ana sat with her back to a palm trunk, glaring blankly across the beach, at the horizon that stretched before her. The shadows of the palm leaves constantly played over her dark skin, changing as the things that shaped them were flung about by the strong sea breeze. With a hollow sigh she drew her knees up and rested her chin on them, wrapping her arms around her legs. The stubborn expression on her face slowly melted into a comparatively empty one as her mind wandered.

"Lady,"

Ana started at the voice and swung her head around to look at the intruder. "Oh, it's just you," she muttered absently, returning her gaze quickly to the horizon.

"If I may?"

Ana's gaze returned to her visitor and saw that he had been asking for permission to sit beside her. She nodded her approval.

Caciques silently set himself down beside her, being sure to give her enough space. He watched the horizon intently, ignoring Ana's sideways glances. Apparently he was not inclined to speak again for some time.

Ana's irritation and curiosity got the best of her. "You wanted to talk to me?" Caciques nodded, though his gaze did not waver from the horizon. Ana looked down at the sand with a chagrined sigh. "It's about Jack, isn't it?" she asked somewhat bitterly.

"Why do you think thus?" Ana's gaze rose in alarm to Caciques' face. The chief smiled easily. "So he has been on your mind as of late."

Ana looked away quickly, trying to hide the blush that tinted her cheeks. When she spoke, she was careful to keep her voice gruff and cruel. "Perhaps. The bloody fool will drink himself to death soon, then I shan't have to worry about him anymore. I mean-"

Caciques grinned. "No need to explain, Miss Ana. I know you only care because he's your captain." His expression sobered considerably as he continued to look at the horizon. "Please don't stay mad at him, Miss."

Ana snorted. "You're here asking forgiveness for him? Is he too cowardly?"

"No. Just proud. And foolish."

"As always. That will never change. All Jack cares about is himself and his plans and his ship. Everything else is a trifle to him."

Caciques turned his intense gaze on Ana at this. "You truly believe so?" Ana nodded without hesitation. His expression softened and took on a somewhat sad light. "Believe what you will. But don't stay angry at him. Such grudges always end poorly."

"It was interesting talking with you, Caciques," Ana grumbled in parting as she dragged herself to her feet and paced dejectedly off down the shoreline.

ZzZzZzZzZzZ

When Ana reached the door to the manor, she paused with one hand poised to open it. She took several long, calming breaths and composed herself. It would do no good to stalk in there all flames and fury, when the object of her vexation was absent. Once she was sure she could trust herself to stand against almost anything, she opened the door and entered.

As if on queue, Gibbs appeared at the base of the stairs and stopped abruptly, giving Ana a relieved look that quickly turned curious. "Welcome back lass…where's Jack?"

"The Cap'n's doin' whatever 'e wants," Ana replied gruffly. "Where's the whelp?"

Gibbs chose to ignore her reaction to the topic of their captain and his mind returned to a more pressing matter. "In a bad way, Ana."

Ana's eyes flared with interest. "What?"

Gibbs motioned for her to follow him and they made their way upstairs, Gibbs telling the story of the previous evening's events as they went.

"He lost some blood, but I doubt it was enough to warrant this," Gibbs finished quietly as they reached the half-open door of Kole's room. Ana nodded absently and entered the room, followed closely by Gibbs.

"Hmm," Ana muttered to herself, crossing to the bed and sitting lightly on the edge. She laid a light hand on the boy's forehead and his eyelids fluttered. "Well, he's not feverish," she commented lowly, "I wonder…" She pulled the blanket away from Kole's shirtless torso. His shoulder was bandaged neatly, stained only slightly with old blood. She gently prodded at the bandaged wound, eliciting a wince and sharp intake of breath from the boy. "Gibbs, run and get some broth for the whelp. There's some leftover from lunch, yes?"

Gibbs quickly complied.

Ana looked the boy over in silence, awaiting Gibbs' return. When the old sailor reentered the room and set the cup of broth on the bedside table, Ana looked up with a wry smile.

"I don't like that look lass. What do you know that I don't?"

Ana chuckled. "Poor, foolish whelp," she muttered, "he's led such a sheltered life up 'til now. No wonder such a minor thing put him out for so long."

"Come again?"

"We're pirates so a little knife in the shoulder seems like nothing to us, but this poor sap 'asn't been injured badly in his whole life. No scars to evidence other injuries, anyway."

"Ah," Gibbs breathed, a relieved smile lighting his features, "I was just so used to treating Jack that this caught me off guard."

Ana's expression darkened considerably at the mention of their captain and she rose stiffly. "He'll wake up soon enough. When he does, make sure he drinks that broth." With that, she left the room and paced down the hall.

ZzZzZzZzZzZ

Caciques pulled the door flap aside and quietly entered the medium-sized hut. Jack lay shirtless on the bed of leaves with one arm laid over his eyes and the other hand resting on his stomach. His chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm and he made no indication that he had heard the other's entrance.

The chief waited just inside the door for a few moments, giving the other a chance to sense his presence. As soon as Jack's breathing sped up, Caciques spoke. "Capitán,"

Jack flinched almost imperceptibly and exhaled deeply. "Caciques. Just the man I wanted t' talk to."

Caciques sank to the sand floor of the hut and quirked his head slightly. "Is that so?"

Jack nodded beneath his arm. "Aye." There was a long pause as Caciques waited for Jack to collect his thoughts and continue. "I'm thinkin' that we'll be leavin' soon."

Caciques nodded. "I thought as much; you've stayed longer than usual. Your ship has been clean and restocked for days."

"Aye," Jack agreed quietly, "there's just one more thing I'm wantin' t' bring with."

"Name it, Capitán,"

"Could ye give me some bottles o' yer special brew? Several bottles."

Caciques' easy-going composure melted into a frown. "Capitán Sparrow," he began, "are you sure that's wise? You've already had two incidents where you've drunk yourself to unconsciousness-"

Jack sat up abruptly and fixed stern eyes on Caciques. "I know my bloody limit, Caciques. The last thing I need is you watchin' my back." He exhaled heavily and closed his eyes, struggling to regain his easy composure. When he reopened his eyes, the guards were back in place. "Please Caciques, just get me enough o' that t' last awhile. No tellin' when we'll return."

"I've heard rumors filtering down from your large hut about rat problems aboard your ship. I may have a solution."

"No cats," Jack countered quickly, "lil' buggers are too proud fer their own good."

Caciques raised his hands as if consenting to the point. "I was not about to offer any cats; alco were on my mind."

Jack quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head inquisitively. "Alco?"

The chief grinned and loosed a loud, piercing whistle that made Jack wince. Moments later, two small canines bounded into the hut and began licking at Caciques' face, persisting even when he tried to push them back. Caciques looked over the panting dogs and smiled faintly at Jack. "Alco."

"Mutts," Jack muttered, eyeing the dogs suspiciously. One turned its attention from Caciques and looked at Jack, sizing the pirate up. After a moment, its tongue lolled out and it crossed the hut in a single bound, planting itself happily in Jack's lap and licking wildly at his face. Jack tried to ward the animal off with one arm, but the dog was more persistent and soon had knocked Jack to the floor and was covering his face in drool.

Caciques chuckled and called the dog off; it obeyed, but not without casting a dejected look back at the pirate laying on the leaf-bed.

Jack ran a hand down his face and grimaced. "Definitely not bringin' them." caciques laughed outright and extended his hand. Lying in his palm was a gold medallion the size of a piece of eight with a raised engraving that crudely resembled a small bird in flight with a sphere clutched in its beak. The sphere was dyed black. "What's that?" Jack questioned, leaning forward to examine the medallion more carefully.

"A gift to you, Capitán, from my daughter, Aneaia. She is the shy one who served you at the feast a few nights back."

Jack carefully lifted the medallion out of Caciques' hand and looked it over. "The Pearl?"

Caciques shrugged. "One can only assume; she did not tell me much more than to give it to you."

Jack turned the medallion over and ran a grimy finger over the text carved into the soft metal. His brow furrowed. "What language is this?"

Caciques shrugged again. "She bade me not to tell you anything regarding the inscription. Only when you are able to read it for yourself will it have meaning."

Jack exhaled deeply and sat back. "Thanks a lot," he muttered darkly. "Now then Caciques, where's my rum?"